Kris Allen, 'Live Like We're Dying' (Sessions)

In one of the closer 'American Idol' final votes, Kris Allen pulled out a victory over Adam Lambert to earn the Season 8 crown. Afterward, he got right to work on his self-titled debut album, writing and recording around the clock over the summer. Usually, a host of professional songwriters are hired to flesh out the 'American Idol' winner's record, but in Allen's case, he was heavily involved in his debut. He contributed to nine of the album's 12 songs, including lending an original tune from a few years ago, 'Red Guitar.'

As you'll see in Allen's Sessions performance, his songs are chock full of big hooks and occasionally draw on his southern heritage by mixing in a bit of slide guitar. If anything shows promise for the newest Idol, watch 'O Holy Night,' which Allen and his bandmates arranged just hours before the taping.